“Eventually.”

“So, all this take-things-slow crap, I thought it meant with the sex. But clearly the two of you haven’t shared some important details.”

“We’re getting there.” At least Gannon had thought they were.

“Well, don’t get all freaked out,” Milly told him, patting his thigh. “You’ve only known the guy for two weeks. I’m sure he’s just got something going on and that’s why he hasn’t answered.”

He hoped she was right, but he didn’t say as much.

“So, I think it’s time you put that dopey grin back on your face and buy me another drink.”

“Another?” Gannon grinned; he couldn’t help it.

“Of course. You didn’t think I was gonna buy my own drinks tonight, did you? Just because you’re gay doesn’t mean you get to take a lady out and let her pay her own way.”

Gannon laughed, as he knew Milly expected him to. She was really something else.

And that was one of the many reasons he loved her.

Nineteen

Cam rubbed his face, narrowing his eyes to look at his alarm clock.

Two twenty in the morning.

Who could possibly be calling him?

Grabbing his cell phone, he read the blurry information on the screen and swallowed hard.

Gannon.

For a moment, he considered not answering it, but his need to know that Gannon was all right won out, and he hit the talk button. “’Lo?”

“Cam?”

“Hmm?”

“Did I wake you?” There was a slight slurring to Gannon’s words.

“Yeah,” he told him, rolling onto his back.

“Sorry. I just needed to hear your voice.”

Cam squeezed his eyes shut. He had no clue what to say to that. Ever since he’d come back to his apartment after having beers with the guys down by the lake, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Gannon. Wondering what he was doing. Worrying that something had happened.

“Did I do something wrong?” Gannon asked, the concern in his tone making Cam’s chest ache.

“No,” he finally said, releasing the air from his lungs. “You haven’t.”

Silence greeted him, and they sat there like that for a few minutes until finally Gannon’s voice filled his ear.

“I miss you,” Gannon whispered.

Cam swallowed past that knot that was still blocking his airway. “I miss you, too.”

He knew he should’ve told Gannon about his reason for being so standoffish, but the truth was, he didn’t want to do it while Gannon was away on business. He didn’t want to think about how fucked up his world would be if Gannon didn’t come home.

He’d survived his mother dying in a hotel room, hundreds of miles away from home on a routine business trip. He didn’t know if he could survive it again.

And yes, he knew it was illogical. Lightning didn’t strike in the same place twice, or so the theory went, so surely Cam wouldn’t have to endure it more than once. But still. His rational brain didn’t hold a candle to the overpowering fear.

“Can I see you on Sunday?” Gannon asked. “Dinner at my place?”

Cam squeezed his eyes shut again, his chest feeling so full of emotion he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do with it. Somehow, he managed to force the words out, “I’d like that.”

“Okay,” Gannon said. “I’ll let you go.”

“’Kay,” Cam agreed.

“Cam…”

“Hmm?”

“I really do miss you.”

“Yeah. Me, too.” More than you know.

After hanging up, Cam rolled over onto his side and stared into the darkness.

Over and over, his mind continued to replay Gannon’s words, spoken in that smooth, sensual tone.

“He’s coming back,” he said aloud, trying to reassure himself, something he’d done numerous times throughout the day.

Well, that wasn’t completely true.

For a few hours that morning, Cam had tried to convince himself that this thing between him and Gannon was over. That he could walk away now that they were apart for a couple of days and he wouldn’t have to look back.

Only that was when he’d realized he was in deeper than he’d thought.

Much deeper.

Two weeks with Gannon had been like a lifetime. During that time, he’d felt so much for the man. Far more than he’d wanted to. But somehow, Gannon had broken right through Cam’s defenses, and here he was, anticipating the moment he would get to see him again.

Closing his eyes, Cam gave in to the mental exhaustion, but not before he whispered once more into the darkness, repeating the words that were now imprinted on his brain.

“He’s coming back.”

While Gannon lay in his hotel room, staring at the ceiling, he was glad he’d finally given in to Milly’s insistence that he try to call Cam again.

Hearing his voice… God, he’d never tire of hearing Cam’s voice.

It had soothed something inside him, made him feel whole once again.

Truth was, he’d been tempted to go to the airport, hop on the first flight back to Texas, and go straight to Cam’s to confront him. He still didn’t know what was bothering Cam, but he honestly believed it had something to do with him traveling.

Was he worried Gannon was going to cheat on him?

He could easily assure him that would never happen. Not only because he didn’t want anyone else but because that wasn’t the way he was programmed. Perhaps that was because Gannon had rarely allowed anyone to get close to him. After he’d been shunned by his own parents, it hadn’t been easy for him to get close to people. Other than Milly, Gannon hadn’t had any close friends through the years.

And maybe that was why he’d buried himself in work. He could keep his relationships impersonal.

But then Cam had walked right into his world.

Well, technically, it was the other way around, but from the moment Gannon had looked into those blue eyes … he’d been lost.

He would never cheat on Cam. Never.

Other than that, though, he couldn’t understand why Cam would try to push him away. They’d been doing well, or so he’d thought. Sure, he noticed that when things moved too fast, Cam started to back off a little, but Gannon understood that. Getting too close, too fast… That could easily blow up in their faces.

However, that didn’t explain why Gannon thought the two were related. Cam distancing himself for fear of getting too close, along with his obvious distaste for Gannon traveling.

Somehow they were connected. But for the life of him, he didn’t know how.

Worse than that ... Gannon was scared shitless to ask. Because he had his own fears.

It all boiled down to the fact that he was hooked on Cam already. Probably had been since the day he’d met him. Falling deeper and deeper with every passing second.

And it was killing him now, knowing that Cam was pushing him away.

Sure, Cam had every right to be cautious, but what Cam didn’t seem to realize was that Gannon had fears of his own.

His number one fear…

Gannon feared that Cam would abandon him.

And he’d have to live through hell all over again.

Twenty

Somehow, Cam had managed to make it through the weekend. Work had kept him busy all day Saturday, which had helped. When Gannon’s text had finally come in, letting him know that he’d made it home safe and sound, a boulder had been lifted from his chest.

If only things could go back to the way they’d been before Gannon had left for his trip. Unfortunately, Cam had fucked it up too much, and he knew he owed Gannon an explanation.

Which was why he was pacing his living room, counting down the minutes until he had to leave to go to Gannon’s.

A knock sounded at his door and he stopped suddenly. “Come in.”

Expecting to see Roan, Cam felt his heart miss a beat when the door opened and Gannon stuck his head in.

“Hey,” Gannon greeted.

“What are you doin’ here?” Cam asked, the words rushing out of him.